My LIFE

Staring at a lighthouse conjures unexplainable feelings. You get a certain sense of happiness, peacefulness, and danger. Historically lighthouses were constructed to protect the boats coming into port and provide direction.

The first lighthouse that we visited was The Nubble Lighthouse in Cape Neddick ME. After seeing the site, the scenery, and this majestic structure it’s hard not to fall in love with lighthouse hunting.

Our search for lighthouses continued to the Plum Island Lighthouse in Newburyport MA. This was probably the least attractive lighthouse in my opinion. The setting was not typical of a lighthouse. One expects a rocky shore, a cliff, or crashing waves. Sadly none of these were present near or around the lighthouse.

Lucky for us the third light house had all the characteristics that we were expecting to see. This was the Annisquam Lighthouse in Gloucester MA. The structure sits atop of a small peninsula of boulders at the tip of Annisquam. Getting there was quite a challenge because it was located at the tip of a residential area… but getting there is half the fun. Driving thru the oldest fishing port in the country, Gloucester, takes you through a scenic fishing village filled with bars and restaurants.

The fourth and fifth lighthouses were located in the Portland ME area. The Bug Light lighthouse is located in South Portland ME. Although it wasn’t a large structure it was the by far the CUTEST!. It’s overlooking Portland harbor and situated on a small park. The area was great because there was ample parking and the site was well maintained. It’s an ideal place for picnic or to go fishing.

The fifth lighthouse was just a few miles down the street at Fort Williams Park. Like the fourth lighthouse this was also situated in a public park. The view was unforgettable. Sitting on a cliff overlooking Casco Bay, this lighthouse is still in use today. The setting was so beautiful that it’s a highly coveted wedding scene. In our 30 minute visit we witnessed four wedding parties. We walked around the estate and took in the beauty of the scenery.

Portland Head Light - Fifth Lighthouse

After every lighthouse we end up venturing in the local surrounding area, looking for a good place to eat.  Sometimes this leads to shopping and sometimes it leads to a few drinks. Like every unique lighthouse, every town has their own local appeal.

Who knows where would be our sixth lighthouse. The hunt continues…

It never really occurred to me that growing up in the city is different than growing up in the province. Growing up with 5 brothers and no sister is different. I don’t compete for attention but I am competitive when it comes to games and making sure I win.

I come from a large family. My Dad has 11 siblings and my Mom has 6. My Dad grew up in the city. In contrast, my Mom was raised in the province. My Dad was born in Minglanilla and my Mom was born in the province of Alcoy. My Dad is a son of a farmer and my Mom is a daughter of a fisherman. I guess that’s where my knack for fishing comes from and my love of plants. My mom moved out of the province to work in the city where she met my dad. My Mom was 17 and my Dad was 27 yrs old when they got married. After getting married they moved to the city.

I was born at the Chung Hua Hospital in Cebu City. I grew up in Don Mariano Cui Street where my grandparents live. We lived in a big house that supported 5 families. The house was situated at the center of a 2.4 acre lot. My grandparents were the original caretakers of the land that was owned by a wealthy family in Cebu. The house is divided into 5 sections; the top half was one section and the bottom half made up the remaining 4 sections. On the top section there were 3 large bedrooms, there was also a dining room, a kitchen and a living room. My family lived in 1 room; my 3 single uncles bunked in one room; and my grandparents took the other room. Four families from my dad’s side occupied the bottom half.

What made the house special was the fact that it was built by my grandfather. He planted several fruits such as: Mango‘s; Jackfruit; Sambag (Sampalok); Coconut; Papaya; Chico Carabao; Bugnay (mini grapes); Kaymito (Star apple); Chicos; Atis; Bananas, and Iba (Kamias). There were also rows and rows of vegetables such as: Camote (sweet potato); Gabi; and Yuca root. In addition to the fruits and vegetables we also had several farm animals. The land was constantly filled with chickens, roosters, ducks, and goats. I remember my grandfather instructing us to take the goats from their pen and move them to the open fields to graze. I can still remember holding a kidd (baby goat) to help it eat. At the back of the house there was a large bamboo chicken coop. Next to the coop was the pig pen. At the far side of the lot, there was a drainage pond where turtles swam. There was a dirt path from the main road that lead to house. The path was lined with coconut trees. Life there felt like you were in a province.

The estate was ideal because of its location. It was situated between two major hospitals; there were two department stores nearby, Rositas and the Thrifty Mart; a few steps from the Thrifty Mart was Robinsons. A little further down the road was Belvic and Century 21 cinemas. In the same area you could also visit the National Bookstore. Everything was walking distance. During this time SM and Ayala did not exist in Cebu. There was no need to go far in order to have fun, everything was close to where we lived.

Counting my brothers, my cousins, and my self, there were 16 kids in our house. We would often play Shatong; Batolata (tumbang preso); Tago tago (hide and seek); Japanese game; Chinese garter; Buwan buwan; Tubig tubig. Growing up my cousins were my best friends.

My childhood was fun and memorable. I remember climbing the mango trees to get the fruit. Throwing my sleepers in the hope of hitting a Sambag (Sampalok). One of my favorite events was harvesting coconuts and jackfruits. I’ve seen goats and pigs give birth. I’ve seen chickens and ducks hatch. I developed a lot of fond memories of my childhood in Cebu. I wouldn’t trade for anything.

 

Cebu City - now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Nubble Lighthouse

Mario and I have been searching for lighthouses here in New England. We asked a couple of friends and from the recommendations we chose The Nubble lighthouse. It was highly recommended by a good friend. We didn’t really know what to expect. We didn’t do any research as far as what’s there, what’s there to do, where to go, where to eat, etc. There’s a certain sense of discovery when you go into a trip like this blind.

We were worried about the weather because the forecast was possibilities of showers and clouds. Armed with our GPS, we left around 11am. Our first stop was York Street. We pulled over to take pictures of the ocean and beach view. Parking was not free; the meter was a quarter for 15mins and operates 7 days a week. The beach looks like Salisbury and Hampton but smaller in terms of shops and restaurants.

The Nubble Lighthouse is classic Maine scenery. It is located just offshore from York Beach. It is well-maintained with a two-story keeper’s house. It’s a really good place to have a picnic. There are several benches placed on the park area overlooking the lighthouse.

After sightseeing we ended up at The 123 Restaurant. They have an outdoor dining area overlooking York Beach. The lunch menu is relatively cheap. A burger, a side, and a beer for only $10.00. You can’t beat that! Cocktails are $7.00. If you decide not to go with the beer and opt to get a cocktail drink you get a dollar off instead. The food was surprisingly delicious and quantity is just right.

The day didn’t end there. On our way to the lighthouse we saw Kittery Outlets sign. We checked the GPS and it was only 8 miles from where we were. The distance wasn’t so bad so we decided to make a stop. What a better way to end the day than to go shopping.

Our first lighthouse picture

About a month ago we didn’t really have anything planned for Memorial Day Weekend due to some budgetary constraints. Spending $1,600 for my parents petition - not including the medical, hotel and airfare for the upcoming interview in Manila. We said, “we’ll…it may be a good road trip to drive down to the Baltimore and DC area since we haven’t been there yet.” We figured it’s going to be a fun road trip since we’ve experienced long distance road trips in the past such as: Niagara and Toronto 2 yrs ago,  Las Vegas - Hoover Dam - Grand Canyon - Flagstaff - Sedona - Phoenix then back to Vegas, and the  island of Puerto Rico- sooo the 6 to 8 hour car ride was not a concern.

We were lucky in finding last minute deals.  We found the Sheraton Baltimore for $80 a night. We got a Camry for $83 for 4 days with unlimited miles.

BALTIMORE:
- We stayed at the Sheraton located 3 blocks from the Inner Harbor, which we thought was the best area to stay in Baltimore. It’s about 4 blocks from the Camden Yards where Orioles play baseball and 4 blocks away from M&T Stadium where the Baltimore Ravens play football - just in case you want to watch a Redsox and Patriots game
- Crab cakes? the BEST! They serve a half pound of crab meat with very little batter just enough to hold the meat together. We tried 3 different restaurants that the hotel recommended: Tir Na Nog, Luna del Sea, and G&M Restaurant. Of all the 3? Luna del Sea and G&M serves the biggest crab cakes I’ve ever seen.

- I recommend staying near the Harbor. It has a boardwalk with Lots of restaurants, shops, and entertainment. Stay away from the North side Baltimore. Trust me it’s not a good area to be wondering around.

From Baltimore we took the train from Penn Station Baltimore to Union Station DC. If you know when you’re going to visit DC take the Amtrak and book it at least a day before you’re trip because you’ll get the tickets cheaper than buying it at the train station.

WASHINGTON DC:
- From the Union Station we walked all the way to Lincoln Memorial to White House then back to Union Station. All the museums are along Independence Ave and Louisiana Ave, these 2 streets/roads run parallel to each other so it’s not hard to criss cross if you want to see something from the other side of the road.

- When someone says Washington DC I think about the Washington Monument, for me that was the “main” attraction. All the others are sort of bonuses.

- Parking along the streets looks like they’re free but you’re limited to 2 hours max or you get a ticket. I found walking more flexible without the hassle of parking and moving your car.

- We probably walked at least 8 miles that day. The next day we took the car and drove around the outskirts of DC where Iwo Jima, Pentagon, Thomas Jefferson Memorial,  FDR, and Arlington Cemetery are located.

Overall it was a great trip. It wasn’t too expensive. It was just right for 4 days 3 nights. The weather held up with the first day being blazing hot. The second day was overcast but still hot.